CONWAY – It was tough sledding for the University of Central Arkansas softball team as they dropped a pair of decisions on the opening day of the inaugural Michelle Short Memorial Collegiate Classic at Farris Field on Sunday.
UCA (8-6) fell in the afternoon matinee 10-1 to hot-hitting North Alabama before dropping a thrilling 7-4 decision to South Dakota State in the nightcap.
UNA 10, UCA 1 (6 innings)
Although they are new to Division-I, the Lions looked anything but inexperienced in their afternoon matchup with Central Arkansas as they took down the home squad 10-1. For just the second time all season, the Bears were outhit in a game as UNA ace Megan Garst shut down UCA to the tune of just one hit. It was the lowest output all year for Central Arkansas.
NOTABLES
- Senior first baseman Kaylyn Shepherd picked up her seventh RBI of the season on a double in the sixth inning. The line shot into right field brought home Kayla Crutchmer from second base.
- Kamryn Coleman (1-2) took the loss in the circle, but after switching to shortstop, made several quality plays with the glove.
- It was a struggle for Bears pitching in the contest. The group allowed nine earned runs and surrendered 10 hits to the Lions.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 7, UCA 4 (8 innings)
The second game of the day was a much different story for the UCA offense. The Bears pounded out 10 hits, but ultimately dropped a heartbreaking 7-4 decision to South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits Ali Herdliska hit a three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to give SDSU the lead for good.
NOTABLES
- Crutchmer continued her torrent stretch with another top-notch effort. The Tulsa, Okla. native went 1-3 and scored twice in the contest. Crutchmer is tied for the team-lead with 11 runs scored this season. She also had an outstanding, highlight-reel catch in centerfield to save two runs for the Bears.
- Cylla Hill just missed a three-run bomb as she drilled a pitch off the top of the Farris Field wall in the first inning. Her two-RBI double knotted the game early for the Bears.
- Reagan Sperling is starting to round into form and is giving Central Arkansas some quality at-bats. Sperling went 2-3 with a pair of basehits in the loss.
- Jordan Johnson did not earn a decision, but tossed 4.0 innings allowing three earned while having struck out two. Rachel Haberman (3-2) tossed 3.1 innings and was stellar before the untimely homerun in the top of the eighth from SDSU. She was saddled with the loss.
- Morgan Felts has also picked it up after a relatively slow start to her 2019 campaign. She went 2-4 in the game.
- Tylar Vernon and Lauren Brooks picked up hits for UCA to round out the offense. Vernon's hit was an RBI-single, the third RBI of her young career.
ON DECK
The Bears will look to bounce back from a tough day with a 1 p.m. matchup against SWAC-foe Jackson State tomorrow afternoon. You can follow the game using live stats or by following UCA Softball on Twitter @UCASoftball and @UCAScoreboard.
